Aris said the junior-to-be was one of his top two runners heading into the fall season.

“It leaves us with a big hole,” said Aris, whose girls are the reigning New York State and Nike Nationals champions. The girls team has won the Nike Nationals seven consecutive years.

Aris said Barger’s new school is solid, both in its academic and running programs, and that Barger should do quite well at Pittsford Mendon, which is Class B rather than A.

“I’d be surprised if she wasn’t a contender for an individual title in Class B this fall,” Aris said of Barger, who finished fourth in Section III and 10th at states in Class A cross country last year.

Bill Meylan of the website Tully Runners.com reported the news about Barger as part of his preview of the upcoming cross-country season.